# spacepy.plot.set_target

`spacepy.plot.``set_target`(target, figsize=None, loc=None, polar=False)

  Given a target on which to plot a figure, determine if that target is None or a matplotlib figure or axes object. Based on the type of target, a figure and/or axes will be either located or generated. Both the figure and axes objects are returned to the caller for further manipulation. This is used in nearly all add_plot-type methods.

  Parameters: | target : object The object on which plotting will happen.
  Returns: | fig : object A matplotlib figure object on which to plot. ax : object A matplotlib subplot object on which to plot.
  Other Parameters:
  | figsize : tuple A two-item tuple/list giving the dimensions of the figure, in inches. Defaults to Matplotlib defaults. loc : integer The subplot triple that specifies the location of the axes object. Defaults to matplotlib default (111). polar : bool Set the axes object to polar coodinates. Defaults to False.

  Examples

      >>> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
      >>> from spacepy.pybats import set_target
      >>> fig = plt.figure()
      >>> fig, ax = set_target(target=fig, loc=211)